Gameweek #1 Jackrabbits

[DaveBird10]

-We did some good things on offense, averaging 5.8ypc vs that defense is pretty good. We just gave up 2 turnovers that really hurt and didn't take advantage of our opportunities. We are still a young team that's improving and now have 6 games in front of us that are all winnable.
-With regards to the defense SDSU came in averaging 7.5ypc on offense and it showed, that's the best o-line I've seen in a while.
-#74 left tackle, #60 left guard and #87 tight end will have a shot on Sundays and that's not counting Janke twins at receiver #1 and #10 or Isiah Davis #22 at running back. That was a game that was man among boys when you look at SDSU on offense with 6yr seniors and in our front 7 on defense we started 3 redshirt freshman and a sophomore.
- One quote in the Pantagraph that I was wondering about and that was the Mike Banks effect and what it would have on this game. It was said like " They had a guy on the inside over there that knows our defense inside and out. We got dialed up on a few things we haven't seen on tape." This kind of worries me. I know Banks was a 4yr starter and coached here for a long time but you had an off-season where we could have changed up a few things, change calls whatever to throw them off. We will continue to do what we do on defense, it just worried me going in and still does make me think after seeing that quote.

 

[Total Red]

-#74 left tackle, #60 left guard and #87 tight end will have a shot on Sundays and that's not counting Janke twins at receiver #1 and #10 or Isiah Davis #22 at running back. That was a game that was man among boys when you look at SDSU on offense with 6yr seniors and in our front 7 on defense we started 3 redshirt freshman and a sophomore.

Men against boys, you nailed it. Our youthful defensive front had been playing well, but it was not a match for #1.
Unfortunately, that's how it is, and it isn't likely to change. We had young players last year, this year and we'll have young players next year. That has always been true, and it is even more likely in the transfer portal era. We knew we had some rebuilding to do on the D-line with Lewan, Deming and Hickcox all graduating. But then Jude Okolo added to departure list when he entered the portal. So yes, we're young up front but we do have good young D-linemen and they have stood up to every challenge except SDSU.
Consider how big of a challenge that was. North Dakota was ranked #16 in the Stats FCS Top 25 poll and that was before they beat WIU on Saturday. North Dakota should move up from #16. North Dakota lost to South Dakota St. 42-21. We lost 40-21. Only Montana St. has come close to stopping SDSU and Montana St. is #2.
We have to expect young players to play every year and if we're going to have a great team we will have to win with those young players.
So also consider this - South Dakota St. rumbled to the '20-'21 National Championship game. They lost to Sam Houston St. 23-21, but they very well may have won that game if they hadn't lost their starting QB on the opening drive of the game. The QB that led SDSU to the National Championship was Mark Gronowski. Gronowski was a true freshman at the time, and he was recruited out of Naperville, IL.

 

[MadBird]

Nice little story in Prairie State Pigskin about QB Zach and Sobkowicz. But sort of good news/bad news - points out that our two top receivers (Sob and Kasper) were both former walk-ons. Now, I don't get too caught up in all this "fire Spack" business, but you know, we've been needing a better receiving corps for some time, and I know we've recruited some - but none of our scholarship WR's can beat out a couple of skinny guys from the suburbs??

Anyway, God bless Sobkowicz and Kasper and QB Zach for that matter.

Connection between QB, top receiver providing big benefits for Illinois State

Illinois State QB Zack Annexstad said he didn’t throw Daniel Sobkowicz a single ball for a year. Now, Sobkowicz is the Redbirds’ No. 1 receiver.

prairiestatepigskin.com

 

[Redbird15]

-We did some good things on offense, averaging 5.8ypc vs that defense is pretty good. We just gave up 2 turnovers that really hurt and didn't take advantage of our opportunities. We are still a young team that's improving and now have 6 games in front of us that are all winnable.
-With regards to the defense SDSU came in averaging 7.5ypc on offense and it showed, that's the best o-line I've seen in a while.
-#74 left tackle, #60 left guard and #87 tight end will have a shot on Sundays and that's not counting Janke twins at receiver #1 and #10 or Isiah Davis #22 at running back. That was a game that was man among boys when you look at SDSU on offense with 6yr seniors and in our front 7 on defense we started 3 redshirt freshman and a sophomore.
- One quote in the Pantagraph that I was wondering about and that was the Mike Banks effect and what it would have on this game. It was said like " They had a guy on the inside over there that knows our defense inside and out. We got dialed up on a few things we haven't seen on tape." This kind of worries me. I know Banks was a 4yr starter and coached here for a long time but you had an off-season where we could have changed up a few things, change calls whatever to throw them off. We will continue to do what we do on defense, it just worried me going in and still does make me think after seeing that quote.

LOL ! I posted after Lindenwood game about former Coach Banks guess our coaching staff and forum peeps forgot ! … my copy past Great win and timely bye week for some to recover from injuries. SDSU is no Lindenwood or any of the previous teams we have played. Special teams in all aspects can not make any eras. Dink and dunk will not work against SDSU. ISU needs to have dink dunk and be able get get a few 20+ yard pass to help loosen up SDSU so stun game can be established. Good to see Robinson get some good runs especially if Wright/Blakemore can’t go. Muller hopefully is on an upswing. He is a north south runner.. The shuffle/toss pass is a waste play removed that from his weaponry playbook. Injuries to WR’s is big. Camo Nelson and Preston. Stewart goes out with injury did not return. Although Carr had a few good catch/run he may not be completely back from hamstring injury. ISU will need Stewart/Carr speed to create some separation against SDSU DB’s. Some may know former Redbird coach/player Michael Banks is DB coach at SDSU. He will know a few of our DB’s and Wr’s tendencies as well as a few of Redbirds defensive and offensive coaches habits. Zack is going to have to be on his A game as well as OL giving him time to throw. Last years game against the rabbits we played with a running QB and no run game. So the hurry up offense play calling got to be 100% on point. Defense is going to have to get some sacks and stop run game

 

[Total Red]

LOL ! I posted after Lindenwood game about former Coach Banks guess our coaching staff and forum peeps forgot ! … my copy past Great win and timely bye week for some to recover from injuries. SDSU is no Lindenwood or any of the previous teams we have played. Special teams in all aspects can not make any eras. Dink and dunk will not work against SDSU. ISU needs to have dink dunk and be able get get a few 20+ yard pass to help loosen up SDSU so stun game can be established. Good to see Robinson get some good runs especially if Wright/Blakemore can’t go. Muller hopefully is on an upswing. He is a north south runner.. The shuffle/toss pass is a waste play removed that from his weaponry playbook. Injuries to WR’s is big. Camo Nelson and Preston. Stewart goes out with injury did not return. Although Carr had a few good catch/run he may not be completely back from hamstring injury. ISU will need Stewart/Carr speed to create some separation against SDSU DB’s. Some may know former Redbird coach/player Michael Banks is DB coach at SDSU. He will know a few of our DB’s and Wr’s tendencies as well as a few of Redbirds defensive and offensive coaches habits. Zack is going to have to be on his A game as well as OL giving him time to throw. Last years game against the rabbits we played with a running QB and no run game. So the hurry up offense play calling got to be 100% on point. Defense is going to have to get some sacks and stop run game

Dink and dunk did work against SDSU. We scored 21 pts which as much as SDSU has given up through 5 games. #2 Montana St. only scored 16. Zack completed 79% of his passes. He threw 1 TD, 0 interceptions with only 1 sack. If we had tried to throw deeper more often Zack would have been sacked several times with likely interceptions.
We're not getting much from Stewart. It may be time to give someone else more reps. Nelson looked good preseason. I hope he can come back.
I think the Coach Banks mole thing is overblown. If it was the opening game of the season, it might make a difference, but SDSU had 4 games of film to look at. Why would you need a coach to describe what we were doing in '22 when you have tape from this season? It's all there - formations, tendencies, player strengths and weaknesses. Just see it for yourself.

 

[fourthandshort]

Nice little story in Prairie State Pigskin about QB Zach and Sobkowicz. But sort of good news/bad news - points out that our two top receivers (Sob and Kasper) were both former walk-ons. Now, I don't get too caught up in all this "fire Spack" business, but you know, we've been needing a better receiving corps for some time, and I know we've recruited some - but none of our scholarship WR's can beat out a couple of skinny guys from the suburbs??

Anyway, God bless Sobkowicz and Kasper and QB Zach for that matter.

Connection between QB, top receiver providing big benefits for Illinois State

Illinois State QB Zack Annexstad said he didn’t throw Daniel Sobkowicz a single ball for a year. Now, Sobkowicz is the Redbirds’ No. 1 receiver.

prairiestatepigskin.com

We used to get our share of very good WRs and not too long ago, post 2014 run with Meredith, Neblett, and Oshaughnessy. Recall our top guys by year:

2015 - Warrum, Anderson, Gibbs .. Warrum was very good, the others were young .. all home grown. Schnell transferred in from Ohio, but was practice squad only. Anderson had issue and transferred, recall his TD catch in Natty.

2016 - Warrum (60) Schnell (59), Gibbs (49) .. this was a very good group in Kolbe's SO season, along with a nice young core of RBs, incl FR James Robinson.

2017 - Schnell (51), Gibbs (36, 9 games) .. big fall of in pass game in Kolbe year 2.

2018 - SR Schnell (65 catches), RS FR Edgar (44) - both studs, though Schnell was a local transfer back in 2015. Davis transferred in and had a sporadically good year, but we leaned hard on RBs Robinson and Markel Smith as pass game got less reliable.

2019 - SO Edgar, SR Haley, FR Grimes, SO Nagel, FR Kacper Rutkiewicz ... pass game dissolved this year. Edgar and Grimes both had injuries. Kacper led with just 23 catches. We had plenty of home grown talent in 2019. Like Kolbe, Brady Davis had notable fall off in his Year 2 as well.

2020 - JR Edgar, SO Grimes, JR Nagel, SO Kacper Rutkiewicz .. Covid year and we had no pass game with Jefferson, but this was a very good home grown WR group still.

2021 - JR Nagel, SO Kacper Rutkiewicz .. this was the low point where top WR had 19 catches. We lost Edgar to injuries, and Grimes transferred. Issue was, we had no QB who could throw the ball ... Bryce Jefferson and Jackson Waring, both struggled and transfered out to lower levels. I had guardedly high hopes for Jefferson, but as good as he was with sensing pocket pressure, he was not able to make throws consistently.

2022 - JR Carr (32 catches), RS FR Sobkowicz (31) .. Annexstad gavce the pass game a nice lift, though we never fully committed to it. Though TEs finally get introduced into pass game with Taula and Deming combining for an unprecedented 48 catches at TE position.

2023 - SO Sobkowicz (29, 5 gms), RS FR Kasper (26) .. TE Grandy already has 25 catches. Car has been injured and just 8 catches so far.

You'll note we had good home grown WRs until our QB and pass game started to fade and QB instability (I still blame coaches) with weak years in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021. This was until Annexstad got here for 2022 and we started to throw the ball more. But even still, he got off to an uneven start in 2022. Problem was there was a whole lotta new with new OC/QB, several key injuries at RB and OL positions, weak/undeveloped WR core, though strong TE pair in 2022. In year 2, Annexstad is off to a much better start this season.

Ideally for our future on offense, specifically in pass game, Annexstad continues to get more and more productive and we need to win some games. This will possibly attract more WRs and especially TEs to this program .. whether HS or portal. What TE looking for touches wouldn't want to play here .. Grandy transfers in and has 25 catched in 5 games. This projects to 50+ catch season .. more than Taula/Deming combined last year. I credit this to both QB Annexstad and OC Peterson. Similar for WR position .. as Mad pointed out, we have 2 non-schollie walkons leading us in catches. Plus a D-II SR TE transfer Grandy .. all could finish with 50-60 catches.

Got to hope OC Peterson will be able to attract some recruits for next season, since Annexstad will be gone. Whether Rittenhouse will be ready next year remains to be seen. But if we put up enough passing numbers, show some run game, and our defense continues to improve .. what QB or WR or TE wouldn't give us a shot.

But it all starts with a commitment to the pass game .. "the modern game" as Spack put it a few weeks ago. If you build it (and stick with it), they will come. And so will the playoff runs.

Trust in OC Peterson and QB Annexstad ... they are auditioning for next years recruits and transfers ... oh, and a playoff bid and run !!!

 

[MadBird]

We used to get our share of very good WRs and not too long ago, post 2014 run with Meredith, Neblett, and Oshaughnessy. Recall our top guys by year:

2015 - Warrum, Anderson, Gibbs .. Warrum was very good, the others were young .. all home grown. Schnell transferred in from Ohio, but was practice squad only. Anderson had issue and transferred, recall his TD catch in Natty.

2016 - Warrum (60) Schnell (59), Gibbs (49) .. this was a very good group in Kolbe's SO season, along with a nice young core of RBs, incl FR James Robinson.

2017 - Schnell (51), Gibbs (36, 9 games) .. big fall of in pass game in Kolbe year 2.

2018 - SR Schnell (65 catches), RS FR Edgar (44) - both studs, though Schnell was a local transfer back in 2015. Davis transferred in and had a sporadically good year, but we leaned hard on RBs Robinson and Markel Smith as pass game got less reliable.

2019 - SO Edgar, SR Haley, FR Grimes, SO Nagel, FR Kacper Rutkiewicz ... pass game dissolved this year. Edgar and Grimes both had injuries. Kacper led with just 23 catches. We had plenty of home grown talent in 2019. Like Kolbe, Brady Davis had notable fall off in his Year 2 as well.

2020 - JR Edgar, SO Grimes, JR Nagel, SO Kacper Rutkiewicz .. Covid year and we had no pass game with Jefferson, but this was a very good home grown WR group still.

2021 - JR Nagel, SO Kacper Rutkiewicz .. this was the low point where top WR had 19 catches. We lost Edgar to injuries, and Grimes transferred. Issue was, we had no QB who could throw the ball ... Bryce Jefferson and Jackson Waring, both struggled and transfered out to lower levels. I had guardedly high hopes for Jefferson, but as good as he was with sensing pocket pressure, he was not able to make throws consistently.

2022 - JR Carr (32 catches), RS FR Sobkowicz (31) .. Annexstad gavce the pass game a nice lift, though we never fully committed to it. Though TEs finally get introduced into pass game with Taula and Deming combining for an unprecedented 48 catches at TE position.

2023 - SO Sobkowicz (29, 5 gms), RS FR Kasper (26) .. TE Grandy already has 25 catches. Car has been injured and just 8 catches so far.

You'll note we had good home grown WRs until our QB and pass game started to fade and QB instability (I still blame coaches) with weak years in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021. This was until Annexstad got here for 2022 and we started to throw the ball more. But even still, he got off to an uneven start in 2022. Problem was there was a whole lotta new with new OC/QB, several key injuries at RB and OL positions, weak/undeveloped WR core, though strong TE pair in 2022. In year 2, Annexstad is off to a much better start this season.

Ideally for our future on offense, specifically in pass game, Annexstad continues to get more and more productive and we need to win some games. This will possibly attract more WRs and especially TEs to this program .. whether HS or portal. What TE looking for touches wouldn't want to play here .. Grandy transfers in and has 25 catched in 5 games. This projects to 50+ catch season .. more than Taula/Deming combined last year. I credit this to both QB Annexstad and OC Peterson. Similar for WR position .. as Mad pointed out, we have 2 non-schollie walkons leading us in catches. Plus a D-II SR TE transfer Grandy .. all could finish with 50-60 catches.

Got to hope OC Peterson will be able to attract some recruits for next season, since Annexstad will be gone. Whether Rittenhouse will be ready next year remains to be seen. But if we put up enough passing numbers, show some run game, and our defense continues to improve .. what QB or WR or TE wouldn't give us a shot.

But it all starts with a commitment to the pass game .. "the modern game" as Spack put it a few weeks ago. If you build it (and stick with it), they will come. And so will the playoff runs.

Trust in OC Peterson and QB Annexstad ... they are auditioning for next years recruits and transfers ... oh, and a playoff bid and run !!!

Good recap, fourth, altho I'm not sure the drop in passing/reliance on the run in 18-19 was due to "bad passing" as much as James Robinson being a stud. Go with your best option, you know?

The QB roster in that 19-20-21 run was a problem. Jefferson had great HS stats, but never showed here. The tall kid from Lincoln-Way never showed. Waring looked promising, but never took that next step. Jefferson transferred to DII Indianapolis, but I don't think he ever played. Lincoln-Way guy went JC and I don't think ever played after that. Waring, at DIII and doing okay? Just not a great recruiting effort.

Where in the heck is the next Matt Brown??? Under the radar, home grown kinda kid that we can get?

Edit - Can't find stats right off, but Waring is QB at NAIA Grand View U, in Des Moines, 5-0 so far this year, 13-1 last year. So, doing "okay", I'd guess!!

 

[Dmills]

Good recap, fourth, altho I'm not sure the drop in passing/reliance on the run in 18-19 was due to "bad passing" as much as James Robinson being a stud. Go with your best option, you know?

The QB roster in that 19-20-21 run was a problem. Jefferson had great HS stats, but never showed here. The tall kid from Lincoln-Way never showed. Waring looked promising, but never took that next step. Jefferson transferred to DII Indianapolis, but I don't think he ever played. Lincoln-Way guy went JC and I don't think ever played after that. Waring, at DIII and doing okay? Just not a great recruiting effort.

Where in the heck is the next Matt Brown??? Under the radar, home grown kinda kid that we can get?

Edit - Can't find stats right off, but Waring is QB at NAIA Grand View U, in Des Moines, 5-0 so far this year, 13-1 last year. So, doing "okay", I'd guess!!

Brady Davis started the season 57-118 passing. 3 of those games were less than 10 completions and one of those games was the best of his career vs NAU. He had an extremely rough go which forced us to rely more on the run game.

 

[Redbird15]

Dink and dunk did work against SDSU. We scored 21 pts which as much as SDSU has given up through 5 games. #2 Montana St. only scored 16. Zack completed 79% of his passes. He threw 1 TD, 0 interceptions with only 1 sack. If we had tried to throw deeper more often Zack would have been sacked several times with likely interceptions.
We're not getting much from Stewart. It may be time to give someone else more reps. Nelson looked good preseason. I hope he can come back.
I think the Coach Banks mole thing is overblown. If it was the opening game of the season, it might make a difference, but SDSU had 4 games of film to look at. Why would you need a coach to describe what we were doing in '22 when you have tape from this season? It's all there - formations, tendencies, player strengths and weaknesses. Just see it for yourself.

In post game interview Spack mentions Banks name so

Dink and dunk did work against SDSU. We scored 21 pts which as much as SDSU has given up through 5 games. #2 Montana St. only scored 16. Zack completed 79% of his passes. He threw 1 TD, 0 interceptions with only 1 sack. If we had tried to throw deeper more often Zack would have been sacked several times with likely interceptions.
We're not getting much from Stewart. It may be time to give someone else more reps. Nelson looked good preseason. I hope he can come back.
I think the Coach Banks mole thing is overblown. If it was the opening game of the season, it might make a difference, but SDSU had 4 games of film to look at. Why would you need a coach to describe what we were doing in '22 when you have tape from this season? It's all there - formations, tendencies, player strengths and weaknesses. Just see it for yourself.

In post game interviews Coach Spack alluded to Former coach Banks and having to make some adjustments in game. So to say it’s overblown… lol which Dallas Cowboys acknowledge there former RB knew certain terminology etc and change a few things which they could have kept it and stll beat the Patriots!

 

[Total Red]

In post game interview Spack mentions Banks name so

In post game interviews Coach Spack alluded to Former coach Banks and having to make some adjustments in game. So to say it’s overblown… lol which Dallas Cowboys acknowledge there former RB knew certain terminology etc and change a few things which they could have kept it and stll beat the Patriots!

I heard the interview. It's an excuse that gets used.

 

[Total Red]

Nice little story in Prairie State Pigskin about QB Zach and Sobkowicz. But sort of good news/bad news - points out that our two top receivers (Sob and Kasper) were both former walk-ons. Now, I don't get too caught up in all this "fire Spack" business, but you know, we've been needing a better receiving corps for some time, and I know we've recruited some - but none of our scholarship WR's can beat out a couple of skinny guys from the suburbs??

Anyway, God bless Sobkowicz and Kasper and QB Zach for that matter.

Connection between QB, top receiver providing big benefits for Illinois State

Illinois State QB Zack Annexstad said he didn’t throw Daniel Sobkowicz a single ball for a year. Now, Sobkowicz is the Redbirds’ No. 1 receiver.

prairiestatepigskin.com

That pass to Annexstad was huge for Sobkowicz. Prior to that Sobkowicz had int's on 100% of his passes. Now he has TD's on 50% of his passes. Zack must be jealous.

 

[fdbird83]

Good recap, fourth, altho I'm not sure the drop in passing/reliance on the run in 18-19 was due to "bad passing" as much as James Robinson being a stud. Go with your best option, you know?

The QB roster in that 19-20-21 run was a problem. Jefferson had great HS stats, but never showed here. The tall kid from Lincoln-Way never showed. Waring looked promising, but never took that next step. Jefferson transferred to DII Indianapolis, but I don't think he ever played. Lincoln-Way guy went JC and I don't think ever played after that. Waring, at DIII and doing okay? Just not a great recruiting effort.

Where in the heck is the next Matt Brown??? Under the radar, home grown kinda kid that we can get?

Edit - Can't find stats right off, but Waring is QB at NAIA Grand View U, in Des Moines, 5-0 so far this year, 13-1 last year. So, doing "okay", I'd guess!!

Waring is 67-97 with 15td's and one INT.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Waring is 67-97 with 15td's and one INT.

At an NAIA School….

 

[CaliRdBrd]

How many more years of 6-5 (maybe 7-4), with no marquee wins, is ok?

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Good recap, fourth, altho I'm not sure the drop in passing/reliance on the run in 18-19 was due to "bad passing" as much as James Robinson being a stud. Go with your best option, you know?

The QB roster in that 19-20-21 run was a problem. Jefferson had great HS stats, but never showed here. The tall kid from Lincoln-Way never showed. Waring looked promising, but never took that next step. Jefferson transferred to DII Indianapolis, but I don't think he ever played. Lincoln-Way guy went JC and I don't think ever played after that. Waring, at DIII and doing okay? Just not a great recruiting effort.

Where in the heck is the next Matt Brown??? Under the radar, home grown kinda kid that we can get?

Edit - Can't find stats right off, but Waring is QB at NAIA Grand View U, in Des Moines, 5-0 so far this year, 13-1 last year. So, doing "okay", I'd guess!!

Jack Baltz was the Lincolnway East player. He did go to a CC after ISU but did not play football after that. He is online to graduate with a Bachelor Degree in finance from Auburn University spring 2024. Getting on with his life, nobody plays forever. Good for him and best wishes for a great business career and life.

 

[MadBird]

Jack Baltz was the Lincolnway East player. He did go to a CC after ISU but did not play football after that. He is online to graduate with a Bachelor Degree in finance from Auburn University spring 2024. Getting on with his life, nobody plays forever. Good for him and best wishes for a great business career and life.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to "run him down" or anything. Just saying there was 1 or 2 recruiting classes there at QB that had a couple guys who not only didn't produce at ISU, but not even at a lower level. Both Jefferson and Baltz had some talent as their HS stats and performance showed.

To another comment: NAIA, DIII, DII - I've watched many years of DIII football live in person. Seen a fair number of transfers "down" to DIII from DII and DI. You know, especially at RB and WR, but any position, you can guess a lack of speed or quicks, or on the line or LB the lack of size maybe or footwork, kept a kid from excelling at a higher level. Whatever it is. But you can tell when a QB has a tight spiral, can throw the deep ball, can put it on the dime, that there's some talent there. Maybe not good enough for DI - can't process the reads, lack of consistency, etc. - but some talent there. I suspect our guy Waring is kind of in that class. Lots of physical skills, coach's kid, just couldn't put it together at ISU's level. Yes, he's put up some good stats, "but" at the NAIA level. But gotta give him credit for showing "something". There's been too many here who've left and never had anything to show for it. Waring's at least producing somewhere.

 

[normalbird]

I think both Rittenhouse and Kaplan show pretty good potential at QB.

Does SDSU’s #22 have a year of eligibility left? Maybe our new IPF would help us get him through the portal

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

I think both Rittenhouse and Kaplan show pretty good potential at QB.

Does SDSU’s #22 have a year of eligibility left? Maybe our new IPF would help us get him through the portal

SDSU doesn’t practice indoor?

 

[Dmills]

SDSU doesn’t practice indoor?

Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex - Facilities - South Dakota State University Athletics

The official facilities page for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits

gojacks.com

 

[fourthandshort]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to "run him down" or anything. Just saying there was 1 or 2 recruiting classes there at QB that had a couple guys who not only didn't produce at ISU, but not even at a lower level. Both Jefferson and Baltz had some talent as their HS stats and performance showed.

To another comment: NAIA, DIII, DII - I've watched many years of DIII football live in person. Seen a fair number of transfers "down" to DIII from DII and DI. You know, especially at RB and WR, but any position, you can guess a lack of speed or quicks, or on the line or LB the lack of size maybe or footwork, kept a kid from excelling at a higher level. Whatever it is. But you can tell when a QB has a tight spiral, can throw the deep ball, can put it on the dime, that there's some talent there. Maybe not good enough for DI - can't process the reads, lack of consistency, etc. - but some talent there. I suspect our guy Waring is kind of in that class. Lots of physical skills, coach's kid, just couldn't put it together at ISU's level. Yes, he's put up some good stats, "but" at the NAIA level. But gotta give him credit for showing "something". There's been too many here who've left and never had anything to show for it. Waring's at least producing somewhere.

You can go back all 13 years under Spack ... Kolbe is the only QB Spack recruited out of HS to have a productive season .. that was 2016, and Kolbe's passing was very strong overall coming off the 2 Roberson/Coprich seasons together. It was an impressive offensive year all things considered, just inconsistent at times. Kolbe's main issue in 2016 was dealing with pocket pressure .. he didn't handle it well, even while he was throwing well when he had time. Then in 2017, he got much better at recognizing and dealing with pocket pressure, enough to avoid the negative plays in the pocket. And his passing slipped way off. I put that as much on coaching as I do on Kolbe. They over-corrected IMO and he slowly lost confidence. The trust factor just isn't theremuch of the time and that is on Spack and his offensive mindset.

Interestingly, Brady Davis also played much better his first season (similarly inconsistent, but more good than not). Then Davis slipped way off his 2nd year. Though I did think Davis was over-rated by many here, why did he also fall way off in year 2. Coaching or playing issue ? Probs a little of both .. but once again, it didn't work out, despite a truly great run game and defense in 2019.

But the good news is Annextstad looks better in Year 2 .. partly his playing, but also the support and familiarity of everyone in a new system. Which leads to what I hope proves to be a great OC hire for years to come .. OC Tony Peterson. Hoping he is the "X" factor for our offense, including the recruitment and development of our future QBs.

Which leads me back to this thread talking about QB depth chart historically. Some of you already know what I'm going to say ... but it is a big problem that we have never had a pretty good #2 Spack reruit waiting in the wings, other than Kolbe, in all of Spack's 13 years. And even that didn't ultimately work out .. and I was a big Kolbe fan.

In OC Peterson we need to trust ... it hasn't been working, so let's try this. Maybe he can even develop Rittenhouse. After starring at Marshall, he coached several dual threat studs there. And if Spack wants to move to a modern offense, he needs to be able to recruit HS and portal ... let OC Peterson be in charge !!